If you’re viewing this page on a phone or tablet, please turn to view in landscape mode, thank you. If you can’t see the list of services on the right hand side please use the connecting links or scroll down for these and other events and information.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 1926 – 2022

Queen Elizabeth II during a visit to the Royal Dockyard Chapel in Pembroke Dock, Wales. Photo courtesy of Associated Press

As a parish we extend our deepest sympathies to members of the Royal Family and to all those who mourn the death of Her Majesty the Queen.

Former Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, shared these words:

“The Queen dedicated her life to our country. We will always be grateful for her truly remarkable service. She leaves behind a powerful legacy, not least in championing friendship between people of all faiths and races, and promoting development.

For those who share a Christian faith, The Queen’s own deep faith has been an inspiration – demonstrated throughout her life in her words and actions.

During this sad time for millions, we should never forget that at the centre of national and international mourning, there is a family grieving for their much-loved mother, grandmother and great grandmother.”

In response to her death our pattern of services will change and are as follows:

Monday 12th September: Prayers, 8.00pm at St Nics Downderry.

Tuesday 13th September: Prayers, 10am at Tideford

Thursday 15th September: Prayers, 10am at Hessenford

Sunday 18th Septermber: 10am services at Downderry and Sheviock, 6pm Evening Service at St Germans

These services supersede services shown on the right of this page until September 27th

New and events summary

• Rev. Lynn has now officially retired – we were delighted to see her at St Mary’s Sheviock on her last Sunday and that we were able to give her the gift from the Benefice in person. We continue to express our gratitude for all the she has done, and wish her a speedy recovery in retirement.
  • The main contacts for the St Germans Group parish now become the parish wardens.
  • Prayers for Rev. Laura please as she continues her ministry with us.

• September 4th at 6.00pm in St. Martin’s Liskeard CAP Service (Christians against Poverty) to look back at the first 3 years of the Liskeard and Looe CAP centre, and look forward with new Centre Manager, Hannah Dunne.

• Sunday 4th September, Teas at Elm Cottage, Tideford Hugh Parker has kindly opened his home for teas on Sunday 4th September at 3.00. All very welcome, as would be donations of cakes or anything edible!

Ukraine

We continue to pray for the people of Ukraine, and also for those in Russia. Let’s also remember the countless other people in Yemen, Syria and so many other countries in our trouble world.

Click here for a letter from our Archbishops.

Click here for a form of prayer from the 24-7 Prayer group (Lectio 365)

Our Worship

Details of our regular Sunday worship and church life online in midweek and on Sunday evening, can be found here. Our online services are led by Rev Laura and the Ministry Team using Zoom software. These include morning and evening prayer and are on most days of the week.  Please contact Rev Laura if you would like to join us, there is no requirement to live within our benefice, you would be most welcome! With our now having services in both in church and online on Zoom, we have become a “hybrid” church – a church that recognises that it is the being together that counts, more than where you are sitting, to worship God. (Photo by Joshua Eckstein on Unsplash)

Safeguarding Update for PCCs

All PCC members are required to complete the Basic Awareness Course every three years, the link for the course is here: https://safeguardingtraining.cofeportal.org

Churchwardens must also complete the Leadership level every three years, please do check if you are in date, courses can be booked here: https://trurodiocese.org.uk/resources/safeguarding/training-safeguarding/leadership-training/

DBS checks are now valid for three years, while each Parish Safeguarding Officer (PSO) will keep an eye on this please do check your own certificate and ask the PSO for help to renew it if it was issued prior to 2019.

PCCs will also need to check they are compliant with the new Safer Recruitment procedures. https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2019-10/ParishSafeGuardingHandBookAugust2019Web.pdf

On The Way Deanery Plan

Following Deanery Synod’s adoption of the plan the Deanery is now working with the Archdeacon of Bodmin to form an Implementation Team over the next couple of months.

The Archdeacon will then task the team with a number of actions but one of the earliest will be the Pastoral Reorganisation.

The Deanery Website will continue to carry the latest news for On The Way. Here’s the link to the website:

https://sites.google.com/view/east-wivelshire-deanery/on-the-way

Alpha Course

Launching in September, we will be running an Alpha course in St Germans, which explores the basics of Christian faith. Starts Thursday September 15th, 7.30 – 9.30.

Places are limited.  Please speak to Revd Laura, Richard Laugharne or Steve Guffick to find out more.

Home/Small Groups

Home Groups will be launching in the Benefice this September.  Those of you who have previously been involved in such groups will know that Home Groups are an important part of nurturing a church community, they keep the fire of faith burning between Sundays and therefore raise the spiritual temperature that we start from on a Sunday – we’ve already seen this effect through the weekday Zoom services.

The groups will meet weekly at a time to suit the group members and each group would have 6-8 people. The groups can use the time to discuss that week’s sermon, for prayer and fellowship.

Home Groups need a leader and a host, this may be the same person or it may be two people who pair up to run a Home Group.  Hospitality (Gospeltality!) is a key part of this; however it doesn’t need to take place in someone’s home.  Zoom could also be used to help accessibility for a group – although that does make offering coffee and cake slightly harder!

Thank you to those who have responded, we do have space for more groups though.  Once our leaders are in place, we will be looking for group members.  If leading is not for you, at this moment, do keep an eye out for information on how to join a group.

Newsletter

Our newsletter has been replaced by a diary of weeklyish events, which will be reflected here.

The next Messy Church at St Germans Priory will provisionally be Saturday 1st October, 10-12 noon. Details to follow. 

Pub theology is going back to the pub! Starting Monday 12th September at the Halfway House, Polbathic, 7.30 – 9pm

• St Nics lunches
  • To be advised….

• St Germans Priory – Ecumenical Choral Evensong, Friday 30th September 7pm. Choral Evensong with The Rt Revd Hugh Nelson, Bishop of St Germans and The Rt Revd Nicholas Hudson, Roman Catholic Bishop of St Germans.
  
• Click here for details of the events briefly described above.

• Covid restrictions – we are currently reviewing our policies in the light of the forthcoming removal of restrictions.  We remain mindful of the government emphasis on all of us taking care of our own well being and safety. Our policies are designed to respect those in our congregations who are more vulnerable, and those who wish to continue with the restrictions. Mindful of the anxieties from our congregation and visitors, the churches have a responsibility to support public health. We will therefore continue to strongly encourage all our visitors to sanitise hands and practice social distancing. Wearing of masks is optional.
  • Our worship patterns will remain the same.
  • Holy Communion will continue to be in one kind (the bread) only. We will continue to remain in our seats for the sharing of the peace.
  • We will continue our strict cleaning regimes.
  • All our churches are open to visitors as places of interest, prayer and reflection.
  • We will continue to monitor and evaluate the situation and may change our advice as deemed necessary.

Online options

There are many options for worship and prayer online….

Or you could still listen to one of the many radio options – Radio 4, Radio Cornwall offer services on a Sunday around 8am.

Or you could look at: Church of England website that now has more services to join – or at many churches and cathedrals up and down the country who have other offerings

A very good resource is https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/church-online

Browse a whole range of prayers you can choose from to read – or listen to:

Or using your computer, tablet or phone (as you prefer) and from your web browser access morning and evening prayer using this link:

Click here and choose what you need.

To read or hear the prayer for today, click on this link: http://cofe.io/TodaysPrayer

Browse around the various pages and you’re sure to find something that interests you.

Alternatively download an App for your tablet or phone. Church House Publishing or provide a number of these Apps and these can be downloaded from https://www.chpublishing.co.uk/apps/daily-prayer

Parish Contacts

Parish Priest: Rev. Canon Lynn Parker has now retired. The main point of contact for all matters are the parish wardens. For weddings, funerals, baptisms and church services please make contact using the list below.

The general email for the parish is stgermanspriory@gmail.com

Curate: Rev. Laura Bushell-Hawke

Parish Wardens: Paul Gribble and Rosemary Stevenson

Readers/Licensed Lay Ministers: Richard Laugharne, Margaret Sylvester-Thorne, David Watters, Matt Frost

For weddings, baptisms, funerals and church services:  David Watters and Margaret Sylvester-Thorne

Children’s work:Evelyn Reed, David Watters, Margaret Sylvester-Thorne, Rev Laura Bushell-Hawke

Messy Church: Evelyn Reed

For buildings and general parish enquiries: the Parish Wardens:   Paul Gribble and Rosemary Stevenson

For Safeguarding:  Rev Laura Bushell-Hawke

Pastoral Visitors Team:  Pat Paxton

Parish Giving Scheme:  Paul Gribble

Finances: the Treasurer, Paul Gribble

Electoral Roll: Rosemary Stevenson

Enquiries about individual churches:

Downderry:  Andrew Pidgen

Hessenford: Fran Moore

St Germans: Richard Laugharne

Tideford: Evelyn Reed

Deanery Synod Reps:  David Watters,  Rosemary Stevenson and Paul Gribble

Cashiers: Peter Daw – St Germans; Tim Pullin – Downderry; Hugh Parker – Tideford and Fiona Bristow – Hessenford.

Additional PCC Members from May 2020

Tim Pullin, Stephen Guffick, Tilly Thompson, Yvonne Byles, Hugh Parker, Susan Booth, Dawn Couling, Fiona Bristow, and Bill Woods.

Hire and other info on St Germans Priory Church for events:

The St Germans Priory Trust:   www.stgermanspriory.info

Hire of the Church Hall in Hessenford:  http://www.hessenford.net

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~   News and Events in the Parish   ~

St Nic’s Lunches

Thanks to Sandra Pearce and her in getting the lunches and other events going again. The next event(s) is/are:

To be advised….

Contact Sandra on 01503 250798 or email smpearce25@btinternet.com to book a space

As always, no charge, but donations welcome.

Zoom Pub Theology

Now running monthly

A chance to discuss ideas and thoughts about all matter of things theological.

After a short introduction of 5 minutes (or more), the conversation is open.

Meet via Zoom from 7.30 – 8.30pm first Monday of the month, starting June 7th

Topics:       TBA….please let Richard have any suggestions

For a Zoom link or enquiries or suggestions, ring Richard Laugharne (01503-230333) or email on richard.laugharne@nhs.net

All welcome! Click here to go back to top.

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2022 Events at St Germans Priory Church

Ecumenical Choral Evensong, Friday 30th September 7pm. Choral Evensong with The Rt Revd Hugh Nelson, Bishop of St Germans and The Rt Revd Nicholas Hudson, Roman Catholic Bishop of St Germans. Bishop Nicholas will be preaching on the life and influence of St Therese of Lisieux.

25th/26th November – Priory Christmas market

Bell ringing practice every Thursday evening
Messy Church first Saturday each month

Events in the Benefice

To be advised